Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-09

O'Clock noon.
~ No attention paid 10 Anonymous Letters or
Communications on d1ay subject
1t Is OF course TO be regretted for many reasons
that the last Congress did not Appropriate a great
Zeal more money than it did for District purposes
but the fact that IL not more liberal should by
no means lead the Commissioners TO fold their
hands and SIT down In idleness and despair There
are many things OF apparently minor importance
10 De done,-a number of things that Can be done,
without serious drain or any drain at all on the
District treasury, and for the non-dolng OF which
the parsimony OF Congress Can afford no sufficient
EXCUSE.
For example, the surface OF many OF the prtnci-
pal streets In the city is badly in need OF patching
and other repairs This is work that can be
done at an outlay OF money very slight in amount
as compared with It's Importance; and the sooner
it is done the better. not only for the comfort OF
the public. but In economical point OF view,-on
the vel-recogRzed principle that ga stitchin time
saves nine
Then, again, the work Of street-sweeping is not
done anything Ike as thoroughly as 1t and
ought TO be done. reform on this point is much
needed and il can be secured, moreover, without
any additional expense whatever to taxpayers.
All that Is necessary 70 this end is a little more
vigilance and rrmness on the part OF the Commits
stoners and their subOrdinateS iD compelling the
street-sweeping contractors To strictly Garry out
In letter and spirit the terms OF their undertaking
and do their work in q manner ut once creditable
70 themselves and satisfactory To the public.
Another subject to which the Commissioners can
address themselves with great advantage is the
duty Of requiring the several street railroad COM
panies In the city TO repave and keep in a more
cleanly and better condition generally those pOr-
tons OF the public roadway lying within and be-
tween their respective tracks The manner and
IN X 10 yh al
1ngton are abused in this respect Is alike insult
TO them and disgrace TO the authorities whose
neglect or lencncy permits the imposition.
Much more might be said; but those named are
all things that need prompt and energetic action
They can DE done, as has been pointed out, with
little additional cost TO the District treasury
1t would have been good thing, undoubtedly, on
many accounts II sufficient money had heen voted
TO open some new and extend some Old streets, as
well as TO make some other much desired improve
mentS; but IL Is far better thing TO put and keep
In proper condition the streets and roads We now
have. In justice and wisdom, Congress ought 20
have been more liberal with the National Capital;
but II wasn't; and the fact that 1t wasn't should
induce highe: ambition and Increased energy
under present conditions, rather than apathy, on
the part OF our local Official authorities. Let them
remember that Joye gave the prayed for assistance
to the bemed carter only after he had put his own
shoulder TO the wheel. As they show themselves
wise and faithful in expeHdin, the small sums
they have the commissioners Will surely be made
the trusted custo.iii ms and diSburserS OF larger
amounts by future Congresses.
The Supreme Court OF the United States decides
that state, or, as in the case at bar d munich
paiity forming part OF state. cannot impose a
license upon drunmers from another state, on the
ground that such taxation is Unconstitutional.
Does this decision apply 70 the District OF Column
bia: To impose such license, says the court, is
To regulate Interstate commerce and that power
Is exclusive with Congress and cannot be exer-
cised by The states or any subdivisions OF states
But so far as the District is concerned Congress
las the exclusive power OF legislation in all cases
Whatsoever AregulatiOn for the District cannot
therefore be unconstitutional, merely because the
power TO make such regulation is reserved TO Con-
gress, fer by that rule al regulations for the Dis
frict would be Unconstitutional The citizens OF
each state are entitled 10 the privileges and i'm
niuDites OF citizens in The several states. But the
supreme Court has decided in an early case which
has been criticised but which has never bet over.
ruled or modified, that the District docs not fall
under the expression ">taics7 in the Constitution
There is no interstate commerce, therefore with
the District, and IL does not fall among the ssev-
ersl stYtey~ in which citizens ara entitled TO the
same privilege But the disposition has always
been 10 avoid this early decision, which refused
the District i privilege; and on some pretext or
burdens are to be imposed Or privileges denied In
the matter oil hcense upon dIurnniers Ii may.
therefore, perhaps be claimed that IL Congress FER
mtS such taxation n the District it must be en-
tended throughout the United States under the
uniformity" clause, or be unconstitutional The
word state In the Constitution ought. where a
general principle is laid down 10 be viewed as in
Guiding the District the early case ought TO be
overried, and this discrimination against the Dis
trict should cease.
1t seems hard that man who carried so little
bitterness il his heart toward Others as Henry
Ward Beecher did. should ia his death become thu.
cause OF sCch wrange as occurred at tie minis
ters' meeting IN Chicago o. Monday Whatever
0inerences might have existed between his theo-
logical views and those OF his brother preachers
there was nothing il tl.a- which need prevent The
sending or u message or confidence To his stricken
widow On the contrary, no &C: on their part
could have emphasized more admirably the r,ri,,
ciple upon wach they all insist in their Iiinistra-
tons, that the christian religion tieve.oDes the
softer human traits. AMI that the wides. divery-
ence or opinions Us 10 methods ought hot to
1nteriere with the sense OF brotherhood between
The laborers for 4 cordnon cause
The lawyer appointed u nj the vacancy on The
District bench CAUSED by Judge Mac Artl.urs resi-
nation, should be local practitioner vsrsed In
The mysteries OF District law ana procedure. A
Souc law! cI, tnoGOuSi.J lilDCei with The spirit OF
modern procedure, would be eli fble for retirement
before he could unlearn what lie knew and could
feel at home in District practice. II he did not
pnlearn, he would be a bull IN the Districts Judi.
cial china shop Only long experience gives the
power 10 nj the garment ~ common law In its
most antique cut ,tattered and imperrecly patched
30 as 10 protect the body polite. When We are
given codes, then the code lawyer VIII come in
play, but not till then.
~
An anomaly among labor orga nizations Is Labor
Council No. 1, which has Just begun its career at
saiefn, Mass IL IS made up OF members Of the
oider trade assemblies who are tired OF the
methods employed by them and want 20 try some
new Ideas Among other things the council ia
pledged 10 take no part in strikes or boycotts
This, OF course does not Interfere with the free
dom OF any member or any number or members
10 withdraw from the employment OF a tyrannlcai
or nigyardiy tsskmaste.. II applies merely TO the
council acting IN It's corporate capacity. The
process Of evolution In labor reform has EVIDENTLY
not yet reached a stopping point